“Why, you see it is the law, printed for your guidance. I undo your act, Mr. Hawes; the prisoner Robinson will obey the chaplain in all things that relate to religious or moral instruction, and he will write his life as ordered, and he is not to be put to hard labor for twenty-four hours. By this means he will recover his spirits and the time and moral improvement you have made him lose. You hear, sir?” added he very sharply.
“I hear,” said Hawes sulkily.
“Go on with your evidence, Mr. Eden.”
“Robinson, my man, you see that machine?”
“Ugh! yes, I see it.”
“For two months I have been trying to convince Mr. Hawes that engine is illegal. I failed; but I have been more fortunate with this gentleman who comes from the Home Office. He has not taken as many minutes to see it is unlawful.”
“Stop a bit, Mr. Eden. It is clearly illegal, but the torture is not proved.”
“Nor ever will be,” put in Mr. Hawes.
“So then, Robinson, no man on earth has the right to put you into that machine.”
“Hurrah!”